sandik Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 I was curious, after reading the Sun-Times report on next year's season, how many different versions of Romeo and Juliet has the Joffrey performed over the life of the company? I know they were touring a version in the early 1980s (I think Cranko, but don't have time to doublecheck right now), but I seem to remember them performing another version as well -- can anyone here help me fill in the blanks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rg Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 as follows: Romeo and Juliet : Chor: Oscar Araiz; mus: Sergei Prokof'ev; cos: Renata Schussheim. First perf: Buenos Aires, Sept 15, 1970, Ballet del Teatro San Martin. // First perf. by The Joffrey Ballet: New York, City Center Fifty-Fifth Street Dance Theater, Oct 12, 1977; lighting: Jennifer Tipton. this version had, if mem. serves 3 different dancers as Juliet and one waggish press agent said as she was attending a perf. that she was waiting for the version with 3 Romeos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandik Posted January 28, 2013 Author Share Posted January 28, 2013 Ah, thank you so much -- I remember this. And now that I think more clearly, the production I was trying to remember from the 1980s touring rep was Cranko's Shrew, not a Romeo. (I'd seen the Cranko R&J elsewhere, and I guess I was conflating the two...) Now to find out when the last time they did the Ariaz -- I guess I'm surprised that they were without a R&J in the intervening years. It's become so ubiquitous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rg Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 very likely the staff around Joffrey was as conscious of history and the company's history as Robert Joffrey was himself. you might try writing the co. for some archivist's name, or check Sasha Anawalt's book for possible mentions of the repertory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandik Posted January 28, 2013 Author Share Posted January 28, 2013 I was going to check Anawalt, but I'm in the middle of moving stuff around in my workspace and there's a phalanx of boxes in front of that bookcase! Another reason to get that task done... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbarber Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 a quick google search reveals that the Joffrey did Cranko's R&J from 1985 through at least 2006. I believe they rented the sets and costumes from the National Ballet of Canada. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandik Posted January 29, 2013 Author Share Posted January 29, 2013 So I'm not as absent-minded as I thought! Many thanks for the help... Since Pacific Northwest Ballet is in Romeo mode starting this weekend I've been mulling it over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts